Speaker Daniel Hummerdal, Director of Safety Innovation and Leadership, Southpac International Group
Empowerment over enforcement
In this talk, Daniel Hummerdal, Director of Safety Innovation and Leadership at Southpac International Group, challenged the room to rethink traditional safety leadership, moving away from the image of the lone, heroic leader who commands from the front. Instead, he explored the idea of leaders as “hosts”—those who create space, invite participation, and empower others to take ownership of safety.
This talk was at the recent National Health & Safety Leaders Summit and below is a concise summary of the talk:
From Heroes to Hosts
Fifteen years ago, I overheard a conversation between senior leaders that sparked a quiet skepticism in me. They talked about needing “strong and visible” safety leadership, but I wondered: strong how? Visible when? Are those the only traits that we want from a leader? And what about the inputs or meaning or contributions from the doers?
Other familiar phrases on safety leadership often come up such as “drawing a line in the sand” and having “tough conversations”. These ideas tend to position leaders as lone heroes—bold, vocal, and ever-present. But are those truly the qualities that drive meaningful and sustainable change in safety culture?
Beyond the Hero Model
This traditional view of leadership puts the spotlight squarely on the individual leader, assuming they must always step forward, make decisions and enforce standards. But this leader-centric model frequently creates dependency—teams wait for direction instead of stepping into shared ownership of safety. What people often call safety leadership is really just safety management on steroids.
More than anything, it fails to recognize the complexity of the work environment, especially when people are involved. As a psychologist, I see every human interaction as layered with values, perspectives, and unpredictable behaviors. That complexity demands a more nuanced approach.
“What people often call safety leadership is really just safety management on steroids.”
Leadership as Activation
A more powerful definition could be that leadership is about activating people to tackle complex, shared challenges. That’s the shift—from leadership as authority to leadership as activation.
And to truly activate people, leaders must move beyond directing from the front. They need to become hosts.
The Host Leadership Model
Host leadership is an alternative model where leaders act more like facilitators of change than enforcers of rules. Think of a dinner party: the host decides who to invite, how to set the atmosphere, and when to step in—or step back—to allow guests to connect and engage.
This metaphor translates beautifully into safety culture. Sometimes, we need to step forward—to initiate, to guide. But often, the more impactful move is stepping back—to make space for others to listen, to support. Hosting creates the conditions for others to bring their insights, creativity, and ownership to the table.
From Enforcement to Enablement
A key tension in safety is the choice between enforcement and enablement. Do we reprimand the worker using an improvised tool? Or do we pause to ask why that workaround was necessary in the first place?
By looking up and out—at systems, constraints, and environments—we can shift our focus from blaming individuals to improving the broader conditions that shape behavior. This perspective invites curiosity, collaboration, and ultimately, better outcomes.
Engagement Is Everything
We know from decades of research that engagement is the engine of performance. And the way we lead—whether we assign tasks or invite participation—has everything to do with how engaged people become. An authentic invitation that includes the freedom to say “no” is a powerful way to genuinely engage and activate people—despite our discomfort with rejection.
So next time you think about safety leadership, consider this: you don’t need to be the hero. You can be the host—the one who creates space, fosters connection and activates the best in others.
After all, the future of safety doesn’t need more superheroes.
It needs more hosts for change.
